Japan Ministry of Defense to Expand Cyber Unit to 5,000 Personnel by 2027

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seomibeum Seo] Japan's Ministry of Defense is planning to expand its cyber unit to 5,000 personnel by 2027.

According to Kyodo News on the 29th, the Ministry of Defense will increase the number of personnel in the specialized unit that deals with cyber attacks, including the "Self-Defense Forces Cyber Unit" established in March this year, from the current 500 to over 5,000. Combining capabilities equipped to respond to cyber attacks, the number is expected to grow to tens of thousands by 2027.

This is interpreted as a response to China, North Korea, and others strengthening their capabilities in the cyber domain.

Kyodo News reported that the expansion of the cyber unit will be reflected in the three major security documents, including the "National Security Strategy," a basic diplomatic and security guideline that the Japanese government will revise by the end of the year.

According to the 2022 Japan Defense White Paper, China's cyber unit consists of 175,000 personnel, including 30,000 offensive troops. North Korea's cyber unit has 6,800 active personnel and is developing infrastructure attack capabilities.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.